Tunnel construction



G. P. HELFRICH.

TUNNEL cowsmucnow.

APPLICATIQN FILED OCT- 30, 1919.

1,363,1 15. 4. Patented Dec. 21,1920.

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a ATTORNEYS G. P. HELFRICH. TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FIYLED OCT. 30. 19:9;

1,363,115 'PatentedDec. 21,1920.

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Arm/mus WITNESSES wig/a4 UNITlEJD STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

GUSTAV P. HELFRICH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Application fi1ed October 30, 1919. Serial No. 334,517.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV P. HELFRICH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Tunnel Construction, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to tunnel construction, and particularly to tunnels which are made at one place and moved into their fixed position, and has for an object to provide a construction which may be moved gradually from one or both shores into position on or beneath a river bed.

Another object is to provide a tunnel structure which is capable of manufacture on the shore and then present a structure wherein it may be easily pulled or pushed into position especially provided in a river bed.

A still further object is to provide a tunnel structure made substantially in sections, formed to be almost as buoyant as water, whereby they may be easily shifted from a land position to a submerged position at any point along the river bed, the various sections being connected immediately before they enter the water in order-to produce a continuous tunnel or tube formation.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a sectional view indicatlng a river and an embodiment of the invention shown in connection therewith, the same be ing in the course of construction. V

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through Fig. 1 on line 2-2, the same being on a greatly enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side View on an enlarged scale, showing the connection between the sections illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal see- I tional View through Fig. 2 on line 4-4.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but disclosing a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the tunnel sections are moved toward the center of a river from each bank thereof.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section showing adjacent sections of a tunnel immediately before interlo king.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through Fig. 5 on line 7--7, the Same being on an enlarged scale. I 7

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a river bed which has been dug out at 2 to produce a transyerse channel or gutter in which the tunnel is to be placed. This excavation may be shallow or comparatively deep as desired. As shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7 the excavation 1s substantially half as deep as the tunnel structure, but it may be suficiently deep to cause the tunnel structure to be flush with the river bed and thereby obviate any pro- JQCtlOIlS or any abutment against which the water or silt may operate. However, the depth at which the tunnel may be laid may be varled widely without departing from the invention. As shown in Fig. 1 a number of sections 3 have been provided, these sections being constructed on what may be termed a skid 4 arranged on the land adjacent the shore line of the river. As the sections are built up they are pulled, or if desired pushed, into the river. These sections may be of any length, as for instance one hundred or two hundred feet, and are of the proper weight to be almost as buoyant as water, so that when pulled into the river there will be but little friction between the section and the ground, thus permitting an easy shifting or movement of the entire tunnel structure. The power for shifting the tunnel structure may be tugs where the river is comparatively wide, or may be one or more cables 5 connected with a windlass 6. i As shown in Fig. 1, the structure is designed to be manufactured on one side of a river and drawn gradually across the river to the opposite side. To accomplish this result and secure the buoyant eifect of the sec tions a bulkhead 7 is provided in the front end of the first section, while all the rear sections are open to each other and to the air at the shore end. Each of the sections 3 is made up of anumber of rings 8 of metal, illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, each of said rings having inturned annular flanges 9 and 10, which are suitably riveted together. The

rings 8 form an outer metal casing, said rings belng open or cut away at 11, as shown in Fig. 7. An inner shell formed of rings 12 is also provided, said inner ring being open at the bottom or at point 13. Each of the inner rings is provided with outwardly extending flanges 14 and 15 designed to be connected by rivets, or otherwise as desired. These rings are held spacedapart by suitable bracing bars 16, held in place in any suitable manner, as for instance by being riveted in place. The various rings forming the sections 3 are riveted together while on the skid 4 and are moved gradually into the water, and as the sections move into the water a bed 17 of concrete is provided, which may be provided with suitable, openings 18 for electric wires, water, gas, or other things. A suflicient amount of concrete is provided to not only close the opening 13 in the inner casing, but to cause the section to sink in the water. As the section moves farther and farther into the water additional concrete 'must be provided so that it will always be slightly heavier than the water.

When a suflicient number of sections have been constructed and moved out some distance into the water, additional concrete is placed be- "tween the inner and outer shells, and also the opening 11 is filled with concrete. This completes the immediate construction of the 'tunnel sections, but usually an additional supply of concrete l9 is pro id d as Shown in Fig. 7, to reinforce and properly wei ht the entire structure, which can be put down after the tunnel is in final position.

' "From Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the skid is made up of a number of wheels 20,

supported by a number of shafts 21, each shaft being carried by a pair of adjustable jaiks 22 so that the sectio'nsmay slide properly into the water.

The construction shown in Fig. 1 is in: tended to be manufactured on one side of the river and'drawn gradually across until the entire tunnel structure is properly located.

If desired, and Where the river is comparative'ly wide the varlous sections 3 are manufactured on both sides of the river and drawn toward the center, where they are caused to slightly telescope or overlap as indicated in Fig. 6. g It will be seen that several rings 24' and 25 are'provided on the ends of the adjacent sections. The ring 25 is v slightly smaller than the ring 2 1 and thereby slidingly fits within ring 2 1, and a supply of 'cement orconcrete may be deposited on the exterior thereof for insuring a solid or Water tight connection. After the parts have been 9 properly connected the bulk-heads 26 and 27 are removed and the interior part of the tunnelfinish'e'd in any desired manner,

In Fig. 5 afurther form of the invention shownwherein th'evarioussections 3 have been manufactured on opposite sides of the river and drawn into the river, though not inpcontact. This is where the river is very wide, and consequently it would be very difficult to pull the sections to a central point.

In a case of this kind the sections are drawn in toward the center as far as possible with the bulk-heads 28 and 29 in position.

{number of central sections 30 are then built in any desired manner, as for instance built on the shore, floated to the place where they care toqbeloca'ted and then lowered; After 32 could be joined now in common use. In some instances the river bed is not sufhciently strong to support the weight of the tunnel and in cases of this kind a number of piles 31 are provided at the desired point and abed of cement 32 placed thereon. If desired the bed of cement with the cement 19 v and produce a thorough support and anchor.

It will, of course, be understood that the ends of the tunnel maybe connected up with suitable terminals in any desired manner without departing from the spirit of the invention, and also that the tunnel maybe used for railways oras a vehicular tunnel, water, oil or gas conduits, or for other purposes. i n I Primarily the construction 1s especially adapted for use intunnels under water, but the same general construction of casing could be used Where a tunnel is positioned on land.

The construction could be built in correct position originally, or could be built and moved along the ground to a limited extent.

While only a tunnel circular in cross section has been shown it is evident that the tunnel could be built square. elliptical, or

other shape in cross section without departing from the inventlon. w ll also beendent that additional bracing or reinforcing members or structures couldbe used ifdesiredin addlt on to'thebracn g or reinforcing actionof the flanges 9 and 14.

In actually constructing at any particular point a tunnel embodying the invention a number of slight variations may be utilized.

as may be desired, For instance when a tunnel is to be pushed or pulled all, theway across awater waythe front part is bullt as a mere shell for a distance usually equal'to the height of the tunnel'provided bythe concrete. If the tunnel was built complete it might be entirely too heavy to be pulled up on the other sideof the water way. Where the tunnel is formed in this way it is weighted down with a material of any kind, 7 as for lnstance sandor gravel, sufficiently to keep it down asitis moved across awater way andafterward said materlal is removed before the front end is pulled up on to the shore. In addition the prepared groove or ditch 2 may be of various contours, but preferably Where the tunnelis to be pulled entirely across a water way, as shown in Fig. 1, said ditch is substantially arc-shaped, while the same shape may be used when the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 5 on the other sections of the ditch, and consequently the tunnel may be in a straight line at an incline until it reaches the central section which is preferably level. Where the two ends are pulled from the opposite shores and are telescoped as shown in Fig. 6, the sections are perfectly straight, something on the order of a flat V-shaped arrangement and the overlapping members fitted to properly telescope.

What I claim is: I

1. The method of constructing and'positioning tunnels comprising the formation and assembling of a plurality of tunnel sections on land with suflicient buoyancy to barely sink when placed in'water, positioning a bulk-head in the first section to enter the water, moving said sections across a body of water so thata series of connected sections will be positioned end for end on the bottom of said body of water, and then applying a covering of concrete to said sec tions.

2. A tunnel comprising a plurality of sections formed with an inner and outer shell,

the inner shell being open at the bottom and the outer shell being open at the top, means connecting the respective sections, and a filling arranged between said shells.

3. A tunnel construction of the character described comprising a plurality of sections, each section being formed with an outer tubular metal shell having an open section extending longitudinally along the top, an inner metal tubular shell having an opening extending longitudinally at the bottom, and

a filling arranged between said shells.

4. The method of constructing and positioning tunnels comprising the formation of tunnel sections on land with ballast permitting a sufficient buoyancy to barely sink when placed in water, assembling the sections immediately previous to their entrance into the water, positioning a bulk head in the first section to enter'the water immediately previous to its entrance, pulling said sections into and across the water so that a series of connected sections will be positioned end forend in a body of water, removing some of the ballast from the end sections as they emerge from the water on the side of the water opposite to their entrance, and then applying a covering of concrete to said connected sections.

GUSTAV P. HELFRICH. 

